A thug who left his victim with a three inch gash on the back of his head after bottling him in a town centre nightclub has avoided jail.

Alexander Wilson, of 12 Lockhart Terrace, Calderwood, last month pled guilty to a reduced charge of throwing a bottle at Ian Murdoch at Downtown nightclub on November 7 to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

The 21-year-old was placed under supervision for two years, ordered to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work in the community and told he must attend alcohol counselling.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Murdoch and is banned from entering Downtown nightclub in East Kilbride for two years.

The court heard how the victim had tried to break up an argument between Wilson and a member of his group before the attack.

Fiscal depute Julie O’Hara told the court: “The complainer, who was with his son and other males, had been in the Salmon Leap and around 12.30 at night they made their way to Downtown nightclub.

“They had been in for about an hour and there were no issues.

“The complainer went to the toilet and when he returned to the bar he noticed a witness (who was part of his group) was involved in an argument with the accused.”

Ms O’Hara added: “The victim approached the accused and said ‘look mate, we’re on a night out just leave it. Why don’t you go your way and we will go ours’.

“He then turned around to the witness and the other males and asked them what they wanted to drink.

“The accused was in possession of a bottle when the complainer was standing with his back to him.

“He then stuck the complainer with the bottle on the rear of the head after throwing it at him.

“The complainer had a three inch cut to the crown of his head and the accused immediately turned and ran away.”

However, the fiscal said a steward stopped Wilson and he was escorted outside.

He was then taken to Cathcart Police Office and was charged later the same day.

Mr Murdoch’s gash required treatment at Hairmyres Hospital where doctors used surgical glue to close the wound.

He was told, given his short hairstyle, he would be left with a permanent scar.

Wilson’s defence solicitor told the court that the argument between his client and the witness from the victim’s group stemmed from the fact Wilson’s girlfriend is the ex-girlfriend of the male he was arguing with.